First part of Corsham's £11m Springfield Campus opens its doors

The entrance to Corsham's new Springfield Campus. Picture by Trevor Porter

The people of Corsham are already making plans for their new community campus, after the first part of the £11 million project opened to the public.

Last night the Corsham Area Board met inside the new Springfield Campus, in Beechfield Road, where the potential users had their first chance to tour the facilities.

Five new hireable multi-purpose community rooms are now open for use, with the new cafe and library due to move into their purpose-built home on August 7.

Katherine Park resident Richard Poynton said: “What I have seen so far is excellent.

“I use the old gym, and I’ll definitely be coming in to make use of the new one.

“I warmed to the library space even without its books. I just think it’s very sensible, it’s full of positive surprises, which is usually what happens when you get people working together.”

The town’s policing team are also due to move into the campus, with the Priory Street police station to be sold for development. Following a consultation with young people from the Corsham area, a climbing wall has also been installed.

The second phase of the development will see the renovation of the adjoining Springfield Leisure Centre, and the reopening of the town’s swimming pool and gym facilities later this year.

The campus has also replaced the former Corsham Community Centre, with local groups already eyeing up the new facilities.

Georgina Hughes, of Corsham Women’s Institute, was among those enjoying the tour.

She said: “I think it’s lovely, and we are looking at which room is the best for us to use.

“I’m a little concerned about how people are going to get up to the centre, as there has been no mention of a bus service, but it is a really beautiful building.”

Nutritionist Clare Walsh is also hoping to run cookery courses from the campus’ training kitchen.

She said: “During the summer holidays we’ll have children’s cookery classes and in September we will target students going off to university, and anyone with young children learning to cook family meals.

“The facilities are fantastic, really wonderful. It’s a huge boost to me, and the community.”